Library now provides information from family Bibles online

Genealogy researchers now have an added resource in their search of family trees. The New Bern-Craven County Public Library’s Family Bibles Collection is online, featuring Bibles that date from 1723 to the mid-1900s, with information on many families in Eastern North Carolina.

Genealogy researchers now have an added resource in their search of family trees.

The New Bern-Craven County Public Library’s Family Bibles Collection is online, featuring Bibles that date from 1723 to the mid-1900s, with information on many families in Eastern North Carolina.

The online collection, which has 35 Bibles, is a project of the library and the Craven County Genealogical Society of North Carolina.

Lois Gregory, past society president, said the online service would add another layer of accessibility convenience for researchers.

“It is really very valuable because the Bibles give a great deal of information about families,” she said. “We have a lot of inquiries from people outside the area who are trying to find information on relatives.”

The Craven group, which incorporated in 1994, will add the library Bibles link to its own website, which serves as a starting point for many genealogy researchers.

The Kellenberger Room at the library has long been a major source of information on family histories.

Research Librarian Victor Jones said the library and genealogy society first held photocopying sessions in October 2002 and 2003 and families brought in their old Bibles.

Since 2003, other Bible records have been added to the collection, Jones said, estimating the 35 Bibles include names of about 500 individuals.

“These records have been shelved in the Kellenberger Room for researchers to use, but now they are available for everyone to use on the internet,” he said.

North Carolina did not have birth or death certificates before about 1913, leaving Bibles as a primary source of information. Jones said family Bibles usually have birth, marriage and death dates of individuals. Sometimes they also have the births of slaves.

Jones said anyone with a family Bible from Craven or adjoining counties can contact him at 638-7808 or email KellenbergerRoom@gmail.com to make arrangements for inclusion in the collection.

To view the Family Bible Collection, visit the Kellenberger Room website: newbern.cpclib.org/research

Carolyn Smith is the president of the Craven County Genealogy Society, which has about 70 members. The group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday each month at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 1207 Forest Drive in New Bern.

On the web: cravengenealogy.org

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or Charlie.hall@newbernsj.com.